Saihara's POV:

I buttoned up my shirt and looked back into the mirror, I was wearing some formal clothing, a buttoned-up shirt and a navy vest along with khakis, we couldn't get suits for us so instead Hanasuke and Masa were lending out their clothes to us guys, and Maiko had to find dresses for the girls.

It was a bit big on me though, but I didn't mind that much. It was better than a hospital gown...today we were leaving the hospital. Is it sad a part of me was excited about that? I was, I wanted to see what the world was truly like...and yet here I am getting to see it because of a funeral.

I felt sick but left my room regardless, heading towards the stairs as I waited for the group to appear. It took a few minutes but every few minutes some of us would be led down to the two vans waiting for us, where they promise us safe transport to the venue it would be held in.

The fact they had to clarify it would be safe scares me.

The van was filled with all the guys from the game, plus the male staff, I couldn't help but make glances at everyone else, I think we all were, this was the first time we had all been in the same area since...

Since before the first trial...no...no even then, we won't ever all be together again. 

I could feel the stares burying itself into my back as I tried my best to look past the blacked-out windows and find the glances of the outside world, only to be left with disappointment. It was blacked out for me.

I couldn't even hear the outside world, I sighed as the drive remained silent for all, occasionally it would seem that someone was tempted to break the silence, to say something only to be met with the melancholy, the dread on what exactly are we supposed to say to each other?

When we finally arrived at the venue I was shocked by how nice it looked, it was a multiple story building although the top floor seemed to be some kind of community garden, Gokuhara from what I saw looked at it fondly.

Momota passed by me and patted my shoulder as if to give me support before he turned back to the other van, waiting until Harukawa came out and the two awkwardly stood next to each other before Momota grabbed her hand and the two walked inside together- Harukawa's embarrassment clear on her face.

I'm glad they managed to get together...

I walked inside the venue, it seemed the bottom part had been renovated for this purpose as multiple photos and wreaths hanging loose from them, people gathered most seemed to be around our ages though...Kiibo's other friends...

I felt myself being drawn to the photos as I walked up next to them, Shirogane was also there intensely focusing on the one before the Kiibo we knew in the game's photo as if trying to recollect something.

The original Kiibo or the one he was based on had shoulder-length messy black hair along with brown square rimmed glasses, he had on a big smile in the photo showing off some braces and he was pale. He looked so happy and carefree in the photo which broke my heart a little, he was younger than the Kiibo I knew he seemed to be fourteen at best.

I couldn't help but stare into his picture, trying to pick out if this was where Kiibo came from, what part of his original personalities found its way into the 53rd game? I wasn't alone though others also seemed to find themselves looking at the pictures. 

Kiibo had been in four games in total, games fifty to fifty-three, and in his four other pictures it showed an arrangement of characters, one looked like a goofball and the picture seemed to have been made for the game's announcement, his nameplate told me he was a cartoonist and he seemed to resemble the original one the most, with his hair and eye color being the same but missing the glasses and braces.

The second was the tallest and showed a serious man, he didn't seem to 'play games' with people, and instead looked reserved and closed off. The next looked tired and it had a boy in pajamas yawning as the tag, and then finally our Kiibo who to my disappointment was shown with the upgrades he made before the final trial rather than the more human body he had throughout the game.

I'm sure he would have been disappointed too.

"He was the ultimate toymaker," Shirogane told me, I turned to her, she was wearing a sleeveless dress but on her arms were tight bandages... "he was?" I asked she nodded, "I don't...I don't remember much from my other game..." she admitted, "But I do remember, that he would always fall asleep at the worst times...and he was kind...I..." Shirogane stopped as she raised her hand to her face, tears forming.

"I can't remember him...I can't remember how he was back then...no...all I have are the memories of our game and...I hurt..." She added as she seemed to struggle to get her words out, her posture crumbling as she lost her composure.

"Shirogane..." I started, I wanted to reach out but I was unsure of what to say, Amami who noticed our conversation quickly came up and began to pull Shirogane out of the room without another word.

I stood there nervous, why didn't I say something? Why couldn't I do something...?

I sighed to myself at my uselessness as the service started and we all sat down for the service.

~-~-~-~-~

When the service ended the groups seemed to split up, apparently the building was a hotel and we would be staying there for the night as it had taken us a few hours to arrive here, and the service was longer than expected.

The groups as previously mentioned split between those who knew Kiibo...or I guess I should say Chiharu Kosuke in life, and the ones who knew him in the games. The ones from the previous games all leaving after the service, I wonder if Amami and Shirogane had a chance to speak with them...

Well, when that happened we all collectively decided to gather in the bar, despite not all of us even knowing if we were underage or not.

The group was silent and it felt awkward, the tense atmosphere only being cut by the occasional conversations we would have about random topics, such as the weather as cliche as that seems. But we are we supposed to say...?

Ouma was in the corner and the closest to the door, in the game he was always able to carry himself and appear calm and confident in any situation. Now he was much more reserved and it showed, it wasn't as though he was scared though or at least he didn't show it, instead he looked disinterested or hesitant...

Iruma kept glaring at him from across the room, and Ouma would always return the look with a grin. Finally, she broke as she got up from her seat and stared directly into Ouma's eyes, "WHY ARE YOU GRINNING? WHY ARE YOU SMILING YOU LITTLE SHIT?" she screamed, Ouma laughed, "why do I need to tell you slut?" he asked.

"Hey, guys stop we shouldn't be fighting-" Momota tried but both sides ignored them, "ARE YOU FUCKING WITH ME RIGHT NOW?" she screamed, "you won't give me a damn answer after ALL OF THAT SHIT? THE GAME IS OVER OUMA IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO FUCKING APOLOGIZE TO HIM!" she screamed as she pointed at Gokuhara.

Gokuhara paled, "Gonta don't want friends to fight!" he screamed, "I'm not apologizing because I have nothing to be sorry about" Ouma responded nonchalantly. The room exploded as Iruma laughed, "NOTHING?!" Harukawa screamed.

"YOU REGRET NOTHING!?" She screamed, "I mean...come on...you can't say you don't regret anything that happened..." Amami said cautiously, "You can't just say something like that Ouma..." he said completely shocked.

"Aww come on nii san, you don't agree with all of these people right?" Ouma asked, his voice trembled a little "don't call me that!" Amami screamed, "Ouma...Ouma you were honestly a jerk during the game..." Yumeno told him.

Ouma looked around the room, he might have come off as glaring but to me, he was searching...searching for somebody...anybody in the room to defend him...

No one said a word.

"Hey guys we shouldn't be saying this, the game is over and-" I tried but was cut off by Ouma laughing loudly, his laughter was wild and almost came off as insane as he relaxed back into his chair, he looked just like he did after the fourth trial...

Terrifying.

"Aww...I knew this is what you guys would say...let me just say this, I love you too!" he screamed, "I love each and every single one of you from the bottom of my heart" he said sarcastically rolling his eyes, "alright, I'll go then" he said and then left the room.

To everyone, this was him showing he was fine being alone. That he was fine with everyone hating him like this...but...

I saw his eyes. And those eyes could only partially mask the pain he felt in those words.